The Carbon Valley town named Krieger as finalist for the position on May 3, several days before his ousting in Erie. He was selected over the sole other candidate, Michael Segrest, according to Firestone’s website.

“The Board of Trustees last night voted unanimously to appoint A.J. Krieger as Firestone’s interim town manager,” Firestone Communication Coordinator Becky Schol said in a statement. “Krieger has more than 25 years of municipal government experience, with expertise in leadership, human resource and staff development, budget and financial management, and economic and community development.”

Krieger, who lives in Broomfield, will begin serving in his new role immediately. He will earn $160,000 a year, according to his employment agreement with the town — a roughly $10,000 pay cut from what he was making at the time of his departure from Erie.

The decision to appoint Krieger, which was made at a special Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday evening, comes at a tumultuous time for both towns’ top staff.

Krieger’s termination in Erie, which came suddenly and without any reason given to the public, saw a fair share of resistance from residents and at least one trustee. And in Firestone, former Town Manager Bruce Nickerson resigned, and was subsequently placed on paid leave, after allegations of workplace misconduct by multiple women surfaced in March.

Erie Trustee Dan Woog, who offered the sole “no” vote on the decision to fire Krieger, criticized the murky circumstances leading up to the meeting. Woog said that he was not present for any discussions ahead of the meeting regarding plans to fire Krieger, and that if any of the other trustees had met or talked privately ahead of the vote, it may constitute a violation of the state’s open meetings law.

“I don’t like the fact that our new mayor went behind my back and Trustee (Scott) Charles’ back to garner the votes to get rid of Mr. Krieger,” Woog wrote in a text Thursday.

The vote to expel Krieger last week was 5-1; Charles was absent for the decision.

“That is far from collaboration. This should have been discussed in an open meeting so that residents could hear why the mayor wanted to fire the town administrator,” Woog added.

“Personal vendettas should not take precedence over what’s best for the town.”

Erie Mayor Jennifer Carroll reiterated on Thursday that “no illegal meetings were held” in the days leading up to Krieger’s termination.

A Colorado Open Records Act request filed with Erie for a separation agreement with Krieger, or any discussions related to his firing, failed to return any documents.

Because the situation is a personnel issue, officials said, the details of Krieger’s removal are unlikely to be disclosed publicly.

Residents and dissenting Erie officials have alleged that Krieger’s deposing likely was the result of the town’s leadership overhaul last month. Citing legal obstacles that typically surround personnel changeovers, Carroll on Thursday said she could not comment on the issue.

However, she has offered some cryptic insight into the matter in the time since the board’s decision, saying: “In record numbers, residents cast their votes in last month’s municipal election to define the vision for Erie’s future. A new path was articulated with conviction, and it’s incumbent upon (elected officials) to ensure the right tools and resources are in place to honor the voice of the people.”

Prior to his nearly decade-long stint in Erie, Krieger served as city manager in Ferguson, Mo., for three years before he was suspended from his post by the City Council in 2004. He would be reinstated just days later after an outcry from residents.

Four years later, he was asked to leave his post as city manager in Northglenn after serving there for 16 months. He resigned in May 2008.